Governance and Politics of China (review)

Those seeking an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of Chinese politics and policy need look no further than Tony Saich's new book. He has proved himself a meticulous observer of Chinese government structures and processes and has had experience in the field administering Ford Foundation programs in China, and thus there are few scholars better qualified to comment on the current state of politics in China. In choosing to include "governance" in the title, Saich signals that one important purpose of his book is to examine the impact of politics and the state at the base of the hierarchy. In numerous boxed vignettes that dot the text, Saich gives us glimpses of the government impact on villages in the countryside far from the center or on families stressed by restructuring. Unlike other textbooks where the boxes and diagrams are aimed at giving a snapshot idea or concept, each of Saich's boxes provides a succinct narrative. Indeed, the entire book is meant to be read as a narrative account rather than simply as a data source.

Following the brief introduction, the main text is divided into eleven substantive chapters. The first two are historical, providing an overview of China's political history, first from 1949 to 1978 (chapter 2), and then for the next quarter century of economic reform (chapter 3). The subsequent chapters examine the organization, membership, and political role of the Chinese Communist Party (chapter 4), the central governing apparatus including the legal system and the military (chapter 5), "governance beyond the center," that is, local and regional government (chapter 6), political participation and protest (chapter 7), the contours of the distinctions between and interactions of Chinese state and society (chapter 8), economic policy (chapter 9), social policy (chapter 10), and foreign policy (chapter 11). The concluding chapter looks at various challenges to policy making in China.

This is not a comparative-politics text that hews to a standardized schematic outline. Saich gives equal weight to structural processes and outcomes without applying a standard model or formula for structure and function. While fully intended as an introductory text, this is a book of thick description rather than schematic outline. It is a book intended to be read, not scanned. Those who do sit down to absorb the narrative will find the exercise fully rewarding because of the depth and breadth of the content. Not satisfied to recite facts, Saich is careful to mention current controversies and conflicts within the field and among policy makers. He also gives us the relevant citations so that we can explore these policy debates further on our own. While the text requires no special background on the part of the reader, it does require a certain commitment to be able to absorb the detail. This is not a five-minute primer.

A commitment by Saich and the publisher to a narrative style results in very few tables, even when the author is relaying statistical information. This is a shortcoming that one hopes will be redressed in a subsequent edition. Moreover, it would be unfortunate if the book did not enjoy the readership it deserves because of an inadequate investment in graphics and color. For example, the diagrams showing government structure, while clear and accurate, could be displayed with a little more flair.

This is a book that is well suited to graduates and senior undergraduates. Both students and instructors will be grateful for the aid to further research provided by the extensive bibliography. This is a book for those who are looking for a deeper understanding of contemporary political processes in China. Saich's previous work, which has focused on the governing structures of the Chinese Party State, along with his firsthand experience in China and extensive contacts dating back to the ....s are well reflected, both in the depth and breadth of information and in the personal vignettes provided in the shaded boxes. This is a book that...